Randwick Councillors met at the Prince Henry Centre in Little Bay for their monthly meeting on Tuesday 28 July 2020. Here’s a summary of some of the matters considered.

Public art to celebrate Aboriginal heritage
A public artwork could be installed at La Perouse to celebrate and recognise the significant local Aboriginal cultural heritage of the area. Council will work with the Local La Perouse Aboriginal Land Council to explore options for an appropriate artwork.

Budget adopted with focus on COVID recovery
Randwick Council’s 2020-21 Budget and Operational Plan was adopted by Councillors which includes a $52M package of initiatives and projects designed to create more than 3,000 jobs and support residents and local businesses recover from COVID-19. See related story: Operational Plan and Budget plans for resilience and recovery in Randwick City

Coogee Bay Road activation closure dropped
An idea to temporarily close Coogee Bay Road for a three-month street activation to support local businesses recover from COVID-19 has been dropped by Council. The business support initiative was consulted with local businesses receiving mixed feedback with some expressing significant concerns about loss of parking. Council will now continue to work with Coogee businesses to explore other ideas to support local businesses. 

Kingsford town plaza plans progress
Plans for a permanent town plaza in the Kingsford town centre have been endorsed by Council and will now move to detailed design for tendering and construction. The plans for the Meeks St Plaza include creating a new grassed lawn area, stage area, more space for outdoor seating and dining. Community consultation held earlier this year found general support for the plans. 

Action on Port noise
Council will approach the NSW State Government to request increased noise monitoring and to consider potential sound mitigation measures to help residents suffering from excessive night time noise from Port Botany. Also being considered is a noise monitoring committee and a noise abatement strategy. Residents as far away as Pagewood have reported recent increases in Port noise. 

Council signs Uluru Statement
Council has formally endorsed the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart that was developed by delegates to the First Nations National Constitutional Convention. Signing the statement shows Council’s support for establishing a new relationship between First Nations and the Australian nation based on justice and self-determination where Indigenous cultures and peoples can flourish, and we all move forward. This includes constitutional change for a First Nations voice establishing a Makarrata Commission to supervise agreement-making with Australian governments.

Plants for headland group
Council is donating $300 worth of native plants to the Friends of Malabar Headland to support their volunteer work restoring and rehabilitating the native vegetation on the headland. This is in addition to Council’s ongoing Bushcare volunteer program and bush rehabilitation works.  

Laperouse commemoration 
Council is considering options to commemorate French explorer Jean-Francois de Galaup Comte de Laperouse who landed in Botany Bay in 1788 in an area now named in his honour. The feasibility and cost of a potential commemoration will be explored by Council and funding and support sought from the French government and Australian state and federal governments.  

Kensington and Kingsford (K2K) plan to be exhibited
A Development Control Plan (DCP) to guide future development in the Kensington and Kingsford town centres has been endorsed by Council for public exhibition. The DCP translates the key objectives and actions from Council’s K2K Planning Strategy which was adopted in 2019 following many years of consultation and research. The plan will be placed on exhibition for public comment shortly.

Media enquiries:
Chelsea Hunter – 0419 694 983 or chelsea.hunter@randwick.nsw.gov.au
Joshua Hay – 0402 351 459 or joshua.hay@randwick.nsw.gov.au